Make Workouts Easier and More Effective with the Right Accessories
Well-being is an irreplaceable asset which is enhanced by health and fitness activities.
While exercise accessories are not absolutely necessary to your workout session, having the right ones can help make exercise easier and more effective. They can greatly enhance your workouts at a fraction of the price of most exercise equipment; they are also versatile, since they can be used interchangeably for aerobics, Pilates or yoga workouts. Here are some pieces of exercise equipment that you might want to add to your home gym.
Exercise balls are over-sized inflatable balls that help strengthen your back and abdominal muscles. You balance yourself on the ball while doing functional resistance exercises that develop your posture, coordination and flexibility. These balls come in 55 cm, 65 cm and 75 cm sizes, making them suitable for exercisers of all heights and weights.
Stability or balance discs are an alternative to exercise balls. Balance discs have dual surfaces, dimpled and smooth, and are used to enhance your balance and coordination by simply sitting or standing on them and trying to retain your balance. They can also be used to enhance free weight exercises such as deep knee bends, lunges and bicep curls. Balance discs can also be adjusted by inflating or deflating them to create the appropriate posture and thickness.
Dumbbells are used for strength training workouts. They are metal bars, around 10 to 15 inches long, that have weights on either end; strength exercises are done with two barbells, one on each hand. Dumbbells usually come in 5 lb increments, although there are also adjustable dumbbells where the weights can be added or removed.
Fitness mats are used by yoga practitioners and those doing floor workouts, since they provide a comfortable surface that allows for greater stability while you’re exercising. They are usually made of nylon or PVC and filled with soft foam, and can be rolled up for easy storage.
Skip ropes are ropes with handles at either end. While they are associated with childhood games, skip ropes are actually a popular workout accessory, since they can enhance agility, coordination, speed and endurance.
You can track your improving stamina by noting whether you are as tired as you used to be after exercise. Track weight accurately with the help of a bathroom digital scale.